To mark the 15th anniversary of cycle hire in London, Transport for London and Santander are launching a photography competition to find 15 iconic images of the famous bikes in locations that showcase London landscapes, landmarks and hidden gems.
The origins of London’s cycle hire go back to February 2008, when Mayor Ken Livingston announced plans for a bicycle hire scheme based largely on the one in operation in Paris at the time.
Livingston announced: ‘We will spend £500 million over the next decade on cycling, the biggest investment in cycling in London’s history, which means that thousands more Londoners can cycle in confidence on routes that take them quickly and safely to where they want to go.’
He went to say that by this year he wanted 5% of all journeys in London to be made by bike. The figure is currently 4.5%.
Ultimately, the scheme was enthusiastically launched by Boris Johnson on 30th July 2010, the famously heavy cycles being branded with Barclays’ name but invariable referred to as Boris Bikes.
The scheme launched with 6,000 bikes and 400 docking stations, situated within TfL’s Zone 1. Originally, the scheme’s membership/registration system prevented casual users from accessing the bikes, until the payment model was changed in December 2010.
Early in 2015 TfL announced a seven-year partnership with Santander worth £43.75m, described at the time as the largest public-sector sponsorship in the world. Since then, TfL’s bikes (there are now more than 12,000 of them) and docking stations (more than 800) have featured Santander’s famous red and white colour scheme.
Launching the new photography competition, David Eddington, Head of Cycle Hire at TfL, said: ‘The London cycle hire scheme has become an iconic London transport mode over the past 15 years, much loved, and photographed, by millions of Londoners and visitors.
‘We are excited to celebrate this by partnering with the Natural History Museum to find 15 photographs that showcase some of the amazing things you can see cycling in London.’
Photographs submitted should feature one of the Santander Cycles in a significant location: ‘whether it’s a famous landmark, a peaceful park, or a golden-hour sunset. The 15 winning photographs will showcase beautiful sights that define cycling in the capital.’
TfL is working with Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Natural History Museum, London, who will help judge the best photographs and select 15 winning shots.
15 winners will receive a free annual Santander Cycles membership (worth £120) and a pair of tickets to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum. The first prize winner will also receive five tickets to a breakfast reception at the museum on 6th November and a chance to explore the museum before it opens to the public.
Melissa Noakes, Head of Sponsorships and Events at Santander UK, said: ‘We’re incredibly proud to have helped millions of Londoners and visitors each year explore the city through the Santander Cycles scheme. It has been an honour to watch the scheme grow and evolve over the past 15 years, and to work alongside TfL in this fantastic partnership for the past ten. Watch this space for more exciting projects to come from us in the coming months.’
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